“Theo told me you were here....”
“Theo was right....”
“Léonie....”
She rose and, with her eyes hard as steel, she intimated to him that he must believe her, that she insisted on his believing her:
“In any case, Otto,” she said; and her manner was once more gently kind, “do not leave Addie any longer in his uncertainty. And you, Addie, don’t be afraid ... and ask papa for Doddie’s hand.... I have nothing to say where Doddie is concerned ... as I have often told you.”
They now all three stood facing one another, in the narrow middle gallery; breathing with difficulty, oppressed by their accumulated emotions. Then Addie said:
“Resident, I ask you ... for your daughter’s hand.”
A dog-cart pulled up at the front of the house.
“That’s Mrs. van Does,” said Léonie, hurriedly. “Otto, say something before she comes....”
“I consent,” said Van Oudijck, gloomily.